Nissan Leaf for Power Safety & Independence

Farid Shahidinejad responded to my Fb request for tales in regards to the Nissan Leaf. When Farid’s good friend, an engineer who labored within the petrol trade, advised him that Australia solely has 24 days’ provide of petrol in reserve, he did his analysis and acquired an electrical automotive. His preliminary buy was a 2015 Nissan Leaf for safety. He didn’t need his household to be caught up in an power disaster.

“If there have been to be a battle or an embargo, petrol could be scarce.” Gas costs had been already rising (and nonetheless are — going up 25% over the Easter weekend, and again down when the working week resumes — it’s a cartel).

Not solely would an electrical automotive charged with photo voltaic assure transport, nevertheless it is also used to barter for items and companies ought to the market break down. “I’m not a big-time prepper, however the thought crosses your thoughts when you could have younger kids. I wanted to get one thing that might not solely be a dependable type of transportation throughout troublesome occasions however I may additionally energy my dwelling home equipment with it within the occasion of a world disaster. Additionally, being the one individual with a working automobile would permit for bartering.” These had been Farid’s ideas in 2018. Since then, we have now had the worldwide COVID epidemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Generally it looks as if one disaster after one other.

In 2018, Farid discovered a pleasant importer who would promote him a used Nissan Leaf from Japan (they’re additionally right-hand drive). He bought the 2015 Leaf for AU$19,000 with 15,000 km (9320 miles) on the clock. He had spent a whole lot of time researching the automotive, as he wished to make the suitable choice. His major concern was round battery degradation.

He wished a pearl white one, with steering wheel controls and with a low variety of kilometers on it. The importer managed to get him one with little or no battery degradation. He was very assured to make the acquisition after assembly the importer and having his dozens of questions answered. This boosted Farid’s sense of safety. A lot in order that they’ve stored in contact and Farid has referred a number of individuals who have gone on to buy their very own automobiles.

Though the importer has given Farid a $500 spotter’s payment for every buy, Farid prefers to go this on as a reduction to the brand new house owners. “I don’t refer for the cash, however as a result of I like the automotive.”

Proudly owning the Leaf has been an incredible expertise for Farid and his household. “I like every part about it however I needed to rigorously plan journeys to ensure I had sufficient battery. I discovered that with the 24 kWh model, I simply had sufficient to get to locations if I deliberate issues appropriately. After 3 years of possession, the battery had degraded perhaps one other 10–20% and it was time to promote.” What number of km had he completed on this time? “I discovered myself having to cost extra often than traditional at fast chargers and so they had been typically damaged. Charging turned a problem.”

Did he hypermile? “Sure, completely, I’d flip between N, D and B continuously once I went on longer journeys.” He felt stiff on the finish of the day from the tightening in his physique from the stress. “That was one main purpose I offered the infant.” Many CHAdeMO chargers are older and a few Leaf drivers are involved about their availability. It must be famous that almost all new public quick chargers are outfitted with CCS2 and CHAdeMO, so Leaf house owners needn’t fear.

A few of Farid’s points with battery degradation and charging delivered to thoughts the frequent FUD that we hear about how poor EV batteries are. Like all FUD, there may be some foundation in reality, as early EVs didn’t have the standard of battery that newer ones do — as Farid has skilled.

In 2021, Farid determined to purchase a 2019 Leaf for $28,000, additionally white, with 19,000 km (11,806 miles) on the clock from the identical importer. “In the direction of the top of the COVID pandemic, I put my previous Leaf up on the market. The bottom mannequin 2019 Nissan Leaf I bought was nice. I actually just like the epedal which makes it simple to drive in visitors. The automotive has a digicam that warns me about close to accidents and it helps me park. The vary is greater than excellent. It could get me to and again from the furthest place I often go to, which is from Tamborine Mountain to Boonah and again.” (150 km/93 miles) Farid works from dwelling designing web sites for companies.

Farid along with his 2019 Nissan Leaf. Picture courtesy of Farid Sharhidinejad.

It took Farid about 4 months to promote the 2015 Leaf. “I saved perhaps $12000 over the time I had the automotive and offered it for $3300 lower than I paid initially. So the automotive earned me $8700.” What was the battery state of cost? The primary concern was the dearth of vary. They might additionally see the newer automotive and ask about that. The automotive lastly offered to a purchaser in Melbourne who made the 1600 km journey to select the automotive up. “I do not know how he made it again in two days as a result of the automotive would should be charged a number of occasions and it might doubtless overheat, however he someway made it!”

Farid plans to maintain his 2019 Nissan Leaf for safety till it dies or till his 11-year-old daughter will get her licence. “I like the Nissan Leaf however I’m additionally watching all the brand new EVs which can be getting into the market at a lot decrease costs, which is improbable. I’ll stick with Nissan for now, however the MG EV is a bit tempting to look into. It appears to be the highest promoting EV in England, which is sort of a feat.”

Farid selected to not have his dashboard or radio transformed to English. With the previous 24 kWh Leaf, he was capable of finding loads of movies on YouTube: “They might stroll you proper by the method. With my present Leaf, I haven’t had a lot luck discovering movies for it. I take advantage of the Google translation app. I simply purpose my telephone on the sprint and it interprets every part in actual time. What I do then is memorise the sequence of essentially the most often accessed options I need, as holding the telephone towards the sprint just isn’t that simple. The glare of the display screen makes it troublesome for the digicam to select up the textual content, so you need to purpose and maintain it in the suitable angle. Usually occasions the menu names as they arrive translated are deceiving, as they’re a literal translation from Japanese, so typically the result’s nonsensical or comical.”

Utilizing Google Translate to work the sprint. Picture courtesy of Farid Shahidinejad.

Sat Nav in Japansese. Picture courtesy of Farid Shahidinejad.

Farid has a 5 kW photo voltaic system that he put in 4 years in the past. This offers him power safety for his automotive. “I do business from home, so I cost between midnight and 4am once I select to cost it utilizing the grid, as I’ve a particular charge with Powershop the place I pay solely about 9 cents per kWh. In sunny climate, I don’t plug in at night time however plug in after I drop the children in school, so it goes between 10am and 2pm with photo voltaic. You may set the automotive to solely permit cost between sure hours.”

Zen trickle charger. Picture courtesy of Farid Shahidinejad.

That is the charger he used to make use of with the 2015 Leaf. He favored it since you may get the trickle right down to 8A for slower charging when it’s cloudy outdoors. The disadvantage was the max was 12A whereas the OEM charger is 15A. He needs he may’ve stored it, because it’s been fairly a cloudy 12 months.

With solar energy on the roof and an electrical automotive, Farid and his household can really feel power safe. They’ve a dependable type of transport freed from the constraints of the bowser and the tyranny of the oil cartels.